Indigenous Language Specialists at the Centre for Indigenous Studies
The Centre for Indigenus studies is the home unit for four Indigenous language scholars working with Kanien’kéha and Anishinaabemowin. In addition to their teaching duties each faculty member also has protected time to work in their community on language revitalization efforts. This protected time allows scholars and the University of Toronto to remain connected to cutting edge language revitalization projects and programs happening in community and contribute to Indigenous language revitalization.
Oheróhskon Ryan DeCaire
Associate Professor
Kanyen’kéha
Tahohtharátye Joe Brant
Assistant Professor
Kanyen’kéha
Ninaatig Staats Pangowish
Assistant Professor
Anishinaabemowin
Mario Wassaykeesic
Assistant Professor
Anishinaabemowin
Rochelle Allan
Indigenous Language Revitalization Partnership Coordinator
Anishinaabemowin
Indigenous language engagement opportunities
The Centre for Indigenous studies offers a variety of courses and extra-curricular opportunities for students and community to engage with language revitalization for over 30 years. Our Experiential learning opportunities and community engagement efforts ensure bring together academics, community and language in a variety of ways to support community driven revitalization and academic excellence.
INS110H1 - Introduction to Conversational Anishinaabemowin
INS210Y1 - Introduction to Anishinaabemowin
INS220Y1 - Introduction to Kanien’kéha (Mohawk Language)
INS301Y1 - Indigenous Languages and Cultures
INS303H1 - Understanding Indigenous Language Vitality and Endangerment
INS304H1 - Best Practices in Indigenous Language Revitalization
Indigenous Studies participates in the Faculty of Arts & Science Language Citation Initiative for Anishinaabemowin. The study of the Anishinaabe language is a demanding and intellectually rewarding educational experience. Successful study of this language demonstrates intelligence, discipline, analytical sophistication, and an excellent memory. The study of any language provides invaluable insights into the varieties of human culture and expression.
In each language the Language Citation recognizes a significant level of achievement in language study with a high level of academic success. The Citation in Anishinaabemowin is available to students who complete INS210Y1 and earn a grade of at least B- in INS310Y1 and INS301Y1/ INS351Y1.
Students should note that, as explained in the Academic Record - Recognition of Academic Achievement section of this Calendar, the Language Citation is not equivalent to an academic program and that enrolment in a program is not necessary in order to earn the recognition bestowed by the Citation.
The Partners in Indigenous Language Revitalization (PILR) is a working group that came from the work done previously by an Indigenous Language Revitalization Team that was formed in September 2021, and included Tahohtharátye Joe Brant, Oheróhskon Ryan DeCaire, Gawęnó:gye’ Mikenzie Sandy, Susana Bejar, Keren Rice, Suzi Lima, Pedro Mateo Pedro, Yanfei Lu, and Martin Renard. Their efforts were sponsored by a grant from PEFAL, which led to the writing of the UofT report Relationahips and Reciprosity.
Relationships and Reciprocity Report
PILR now works to enact the three core takaways of the Relationahips and Reciprosity report here at U of T.
- Leadership and ownership in Indigenous language revitalization efforts must always reside within Indigenous communities, because expertise and knowledge in Indigenous language revitalization efforts resides with Indigenous communities themselves.
- Indigenous language revitalization efforts can only have a significant impact if they are directly geared towards the creation of new speakers.
- The delivery, assessment, and accreditation of university-supported language revitalization programs should be culturally appropriate for the communities in which they are based.
In doing this the working group has to date has supported and hosted languages events and experienctial learning opportunities for students and community and is building relationship with several communities and organization at the forefront of creating new speakers of Indigenous languages.
UofT Library Research Guide - Indigenous Languages
Collection of materials in Indigenous languages through the Thomas Fisher Rare Book library
Language improves health and wellbeing in Indigenous communities: A scoping review Oheróhskon Ryan DeCaire in the Language and Health
Social Work’s Very Complicated Relationship with Indigenous Languages Rochelle Allan in Abolish Social Work (As We Know It)
Adult Immersion in Kanien’kéha Revitalization Oheróhskon Ryan DeCaire in the Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics
A Reference Grammar of the Onondaga Language University of Toronto Press
Nishnaabemwin Lesson with Dr. Mary Ann Corbiere - L'IMAGE comics
Baadwewdangig “Those that come sounding”
Oneida-English/English-Oneida Dictionary University of Toronto Press
Nishnaabemwin Reference Grammar University of Toronto Press
Blackfoot Grammar University of Toronto Press
Indigenous Language Revitalization media and presentations